A massive fire erupted Sunday at a Lehi apartment complex under construction, with flames and black smoke visible from the Point of the Mountain area; the unexpected conflagration sent community members into a stir, though officials reported that no injuries occurred and nearby homes remained unthreatened, according to KSL.com. The fire was successfully contained by firefighting crews, who will continue to monitor the site overnight, despite their expectations that smoke may linger in the air for days.
After the containment of the blaze, much of a four-story structure had crumbled to the ground, and authorities are now facing instability issues with the construction cranes that were exposed to intense heat, "We have a couple cranes that got a lot of heat damage, and so we're having a hard time putting our people in there because we don't believe those cranes are stable," Lehi Fire Chief Jeremy Craft detailed the precarious situation to KUTV, emphasizing that there's currently no threat to life, so there's no need to risk the safety of emergency crews; investigations have been delayed until the area is deemed safe.
A thorough investigation to determine the cause of the fire is anticipated to commence once the area is secured, with initial statements suggesting it could take up to 4-5 days to sort through the debris. "It's a large rubble pile that will take an expected 4-5 days to sift through to find the origin," reported FOX13. Scent-trained dogs may be brought in to aid in detecting signs of arson, as part of the comprehensive efforts by authorities.
Concerns over the structural integrity of two cranes have led to plans for bringing in a larger crane on Monday to dismantle them, allowing safer access to the site and as a precaution, residents and visitors are being advised to avoid specific areas, "Due to the fire, people are being told to avoid the north end of Traverse Mountain, including Flight Park Road and nearby walking trails, until further notice," Craft explained the ongoing safety measures to FOX13.
